Surname Quillan - Meaning and Origin

Quillan: What does the surname Quillan mean?

The surname Quillan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O' Cuileannain", with the prefix "O" indicating "descendant of", and "Cuileannain", a personal nickname from a diminutive of "coilean" meaning "cub". Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "descendant of the young hound". The surname suggests a link to loyalty, courage, and vigilance commonly associated with the symbolic attributes of hounds in Irish culture. It was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) in the South of Ireland, the largest county in the state, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Over time, as with many Irish surnames, the spelling has been anglicized in many different forms, including Quillan, O'Quillan, Quillen, Quillin, Quilon, Quilonan, and more.

Quillan: Where does the name Quillan come from?

The surname Quillan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Uighilín" which means "son of Hugelin," a personal name of Norman origin. It is mostly associated with North Antrim in Ireland where the family held a family seat as chiefs at Route.

The name has several variants including Quillan, O'Quillan, Quillin, Quillinan, MacQuillian, MacGillan, and others. Quillan family members have emigrated to many places around the world, including Britain, America, Canada, and Australia. The process of anglicizing Gaelic surnames often led to a diversity of spellings. In America, some family members adopted the spelling of McQuillan.

Today, the surname can still be found primarily in Ireland, but also in small numbers in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia. However, it is not considered a very common surname in any of these countries. The surname Quillan, like many Irish surnames, carries a rich history deeply intertwined with the ancestral and cultural roots of Ireland.

Variations of the surname Quillan

The surname Quillan originates from the Gaelic Mac Uighilin (MacQuillan), which roughly translates to the "son of the heart." This surname derived from a clan in the region of Antrim in Northern Ireland.

Its variants and alternative spellings include: McQuillan, MacQuillan, O'Quillan, Quillen, Quillin, Quillinan, Quillon, Quillian, Quillon, McCuillan, and McQuillin. These multiple spellings are often due to a general lack of consistency in recording the same name, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries where Irish names were anglicized.

The change in spelling often resulted from the phonetic translation of the name as it was heard by English officials, resulting in complete misrepresentations. For instance, Mac Uighilin was recorded as MacQuillan, and at times reduced to just Quillan. Quillan was further anglicized to Quillin, then Quillen.

It should also be noted that while these variants originated from the same Gaelic source, they do not necessarily share the same ancestral lineage. Different families adopted or were assigned these names independently based on phonetic similarities. Hence, individuals with these surnames might not always share a direct blood relation.

Famous people with the name Quillan

• Aidan Quillan, Irish actor
• Andrew Quillan, British entrepreneur
• Mary Quillan, American journalist
• Patrick Quillan, Canadian actor
• Shannon Quillan, American reality television star
• Tyler Quillan, Scottish singer-songwriter
• Maggie Quillan, English actress
• Jim Quillan, British musician
• Henry Quillan, American actor
• Jack Quillan, Australian athlete

Other surnames

QuillenQuilliam